Introduction
Every nation has a variety of traditions and customs that contribute to its unique cultural heritage. Observing how people from different countries develop their relationships and attitudes is always interesting. India is one of the oldest civilizations, having emerged in 4000 BC and retained its distinctive caste system engrained in the Hindu religion (Gokhale). Despite the already-made achievements, wealth, and natural richness of the region, many Indians continue living below the poverty line.
Castes cannot be ignored in Indian families because this form of stratification regulates marriages, incomes, and other decisions. It is critical to understand if the caste system affects national imparity and why people with such a long way of progress depend on the system imposed by their religion or traditions. Today, India is known as a country with a long history where the caste system determines lifestyles, and analyzing primary sources, historical events, and people’s opinions about the existing hierarchies should clarify social inequality roots.
The Reasons Behind the Relevance of the Caste System in India
Adherence to Ancient Scriptures and Religious Influence
First, Indians respect and follow the principles of ancient scripts, like Ramayana, in which the basics of the caste system are identified. In India, religion plays a vital role in human life, and most people believe in God as the world’s creator. The interference of Gods was inevitable, and people depended on the supernatural impact. Ramayana‘s author Valmiki says, “Gods and goddesses watching the happy scenes assumed human form, mixed with the crowds, and shared their joy” (388).
The relationships between Gods and humans were initiated with the incarnations of Vishnu and his spouse Lakshmi as Rama and Sita. They had to take the human road, which was full of limitations, imposed morals and rules, and reveal their divinity through actions. Ramayana demonstrates the worth of human faith in Gods and their contributions, underlying social hierarchies’ influence.
Gods’ opinions define Indian lives as they “showered down flowers and blessings, clouds parted and precipitated rains, the oceans tossed up in the air” (Valmiki 387). People could make decisions, but they never ignored the supreme power. The primary sources prove that Indian beliefs become a life-long issue of social inequality since ancient times.
Historical Significance and Social Progress Linked to Caste
Second, in Indian history, social progress is closely related to the events that promote the caste system as an integral part of interpersonal relationships and traditions. In Indian society, there are four classes, the representatives of which complete their functions and roles correctly. There are “the Brahmins, or priests; the Ksatriyas, or warriors and rulers; the Vaisyas, or merchants and farmers; and the Sudras, or peasants and laborers” (Potter). Although people know a little about the history of this division, they respect the offered hierarchy and follow the chosen characteristics.
At the same time, India is one nation that accepts the theory of multiple religious universes where “the sets of gods recognized by different sects are by no means mutually exclusive” (Potter). This attitude toward diversity is another explanation of India’s castes and the necessity to maintain multiple customs and values. The inability to exclude some faiths and historical events may be another reason for poverty and social inequality in the country, provoking the negative consequences of the caste system.
Contemporary Perspectives on Caste and Its Ongoing Impact
Finally, although modern attitudes toward the caste system differ from those created centuries ago, it is hard to neglect its impact on the government and citizens today. There are many examples of how religious castes have been diminished in modern India, and some governmental policies, together with public opinions, become the best evidence. In the middle of the 20th century, the proposal that “banned discrimination based on caster and in an attempt to correct historical injustices” was added to the Independent Indian constitution (“What Is India’s Caste System?”).
Despite personal opinions and religious beliefs, it has become illegal to favor particular classes. In addition, about “82% of Indians say that they have not personally faced discrimination” or that they “do not feel there is a lot of caste discrimination” (Sahgal et al.). However, some believe the caste system affects employment conditions and marriage opportunities. As a result, social inequality exists in the country, and the differences between castes might be used to explain people’s differences. The government tries to predict the effect of discrimination, and citizens like to change their behavioral norms to prove progress and positive self-consciousness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the caste system based on the Hindu religion remains a crucial aspect of Indian society. The information obtained from primary sources like the Ramayana, the evaluation of historical events, and attention to modern opinions contributes to a better understanding of why social hierarchy negatively affects Indians. People make multiple attempts to change their lifestyles and living conditions, but the caste system has profound social and religious roots.
The Indian government has already successfully implemented several policies to ensure caste discrimination is illegal in the country. Still, this system is unique because, through the prism of its long history and adjustments as per citizens’ needs, it has not changed its essence. Indian customs and traditions attract global attention due to their religious inherency. This investigation helps us learn that the caste system is a significant part of Indian history and religion. Still, its impact is no longer as high as it was centuries ago.
Works Cited
Gokhale, Balkrishna Govind. “India.” Scholastic GO!. Web.
Potter, Karl H. “Hinduism.” Scholastic GO!. Web.
Sahgal, Neha, et al. “4. Attitudes About Caste.” Pew Research Center. 2021. Web.
Valmiki. “From the Ramayana.” Reading the World: Contemporary Literature from around the Globe, edited by Carol Francis and Julie A Schumacher, Perfection Learning, 2nd ed., 2012, pp. 381-390.
“What Is India’s Caste System?” BBC, 2019. Web.